Tipp City Council approves sale of city parcel to school district amid questions about value

Tipp City Council voted on May 6 to sell a small city-owned parcel on West Edge Drive to the Tipp City Exempted Village School District for one dollar to permit construction of an emergency access drive for a new school facility.

City staff described the sale as mutually beneficial. “The current value on the property on the auditor's website is $36,200,” said Mr. Mac, a city staff member explaining the proposal, and he said the district would build an emergency access drive that would also address drainage issues and remove current city maintenance responsibilities.

During the public hearing, resident Cathy Bone asked whether the parcel’s spring and drainage would be disturbed by paving; staff responded that the construction would include infrastructure to redirect the spring and that paving for emergency vehicles would be accommodated without harming the spring.

At least one council member raised objections on transparency and precedent. A council member opposed the sale on the grounds that the transfer amounted to giving away city property: “We’re giving it away,” the council member said, and argued the city should identify an appraised or fair market value before transferring property to an entity that serves residents beyond Tipp City.

Council proceeded to a roll-call vote. The clerk recorded votes as follows: Mister O'Neil — yes; Mister Kessler — yes; Mister Cox — yes; Mrs. Pittenger — yes; Mayor Logan Rogers — yes; Mrs. Huffman — no. The motion carried and Resolution 16-26 was adopted.

The resolution authorizes the city to transfer the parcel to the school district for public purposes without competitive bidding. City staff said the district will assume maintenance of the lot and pay for the construction of the emergency access, and that resolving drainage with the district’s work will benefit nearby properties.

Council discussion also noted a transcript discrepancy about lot counts and property descriptions in other agenda items, and a council member reiterated a preference for documentation of fair market value in future intergovernmental transfers.

What happens next: With the resolution adopted, the city may proceed with the sale and the school district can include the access drive in its construction plan. The transcript did not include an appraisal or a final closing date for the transfer.